Adding to the fall fun, the CTU is suing the state over its approval of the virtual charter school earlier this year. Click here to read all the details: Virtual_lawsuit_release_10406_4final.doc
I'm a freelance education writer with too much time on my hands.
Our union dues are going to work.
Posted by: Kugler | October 04, 2006 at 11:53 PM
Kugler, are you related to the Kugler who works for the AFT?
Posted by: | October 05, 2006 at 01:24 AM
I do not see why so many are up in arms over this concept. Do parents get to sue failing schools when they fail to adequately teach their children?
Why not create another option for parents?
Posted by: | October 05, 2006 at 07:20 AM
My arms are not up, but I think it is worth asking at least a few question:
why is the public school system underwriting the costs of home schooling? I can see how one could argue it is a nice thing to do, but people who make the decision to home school typically make the decision bc they don't want the public system educating their children - so why use scarce resources to try to educate people who have already taken the affirmative step and opted out?
why would a company that does not hire nearly the number of teachers of a traditional public school, nor have to cover the costs of operating a facility adequate for all those enrolled, receive the same per pupil as a standard public school? call me a cynic but even without bill bennett on the board, this seems like a recipe for carpet baggers to get rich on the back of an underfunded system. at risk of sounding like the marxist I am not, the 'no room school house' sounds like kafka at best, but an american idea brought to you by capitalists run amok at worst.
and whatever happened to socialization? I can imagine this kind of learning enviroment being good for secondary school kids or drop outs, who have failed in the traditional system, who need to be engaged in new ways, but socializing a first grader with a lap top?
given the parents are, in this design, the primary human beings involved in the education process - supported by online software, virtual tutors, and a weekly visit to a learning center, does anyone know what is actually required of parents? do they have to be home? do they have to be educated beyond high school? are there any requirements at all? anybody know?
I bet the ctu does.
Posted by: | October 05, 2006 at 01:13 PM
Now that CTU is noticing illegalities in charter schools, will the next step be to enforce the limit of 30 charter schools in Chicago?
The 30-school cap on CPS charter schools was achieved by giving CPS the original 15 allocated for Chicago and adding in 15 from the rest of the state. That still meant CPS was not supposed to have more than 30 -- also in state law.
CPS has been violating the cap by creating the "campuses" of existing charter schools, thereby expanding the actual number to nearly 50 (this school year). How can anyone, with a straight face, proclaim that the "Northtown" and Longwood Chicago International "campuses" are simply "campuses" of the same "school"?
Isn't that as illegal as the Virtual Charter? And if so, why hasn't CTU either litigated or done legislative action on the question?
Posted by: George N Schmidt | October 05, 2006 at 02:55 PM
I think the once a week meeting requirement would negate the claim that the education is home-based.
Are there really that many teacher jobs at risk here? I read 200 students. That doesn't sound like a lot of spots.
I think it's a neat response. I doubt many people who want to homeschool for religious reasons will do it this way as they traditionally don't want any contact with a school system. This seems like a neat hybrid approach that could be really good for kids who for one reason or another learn a lot quicker or a lot slower than their peers. Also might be good for those who don't function well in a traditional classroom.
Posted by: a_cermak | October 05, 2006 at 03:59 PM
01:24
Not that I know of.
Maybe long time ago in the old country.
Posted by: Kugler | October 05, 2006 at 06:42 PM
This virtual school will have serious problems with the way it is offered now and the children in it will suffer.
ISBE should not have passed it.
Hooray for the CTU. I am glad someone stepped up to the plate on this charter. Way too extreem in terms of real instruction and protection for the children. MySpace and Virtual preditors anyone?
Posted by: | October 05, 2006 at 07:16 PM
Apparently, Mr. Schmidt did not take on any of the suggested hobbies from earlier in the week. Doesn't he have his own website and publication to grandstand?
Posted by: | October 05, 2006 at 08:56 PM
8:56 If you want to complain about George, open your own blog.
His 2:55 comment was on the topic and factual.
Please stick to the blog subject at hand.
If Goerge can do it, so can you.
(My apologies for taking the time to set 8:56 straight.)
Thank you.
Posted by: | October 06, 2006 at 09:02 AM
Oct 5 7:16 PM:
How will children suffer through this program? I could see where children with motivated parents would do no worse, and in fact might do better with this program. I've looked at the curriculum and it certainly doesn't lack breadth.
I don't think every child who tries this will excell with it though. Again, that is where the Friday sessions come in handy--they can ascertain which families are struggling with the program and help them out or in extreme cases transfer them back to their local school.
Posted by: a_cermak | October 06, 2006 at 11:21 AM
From a homeschooling perspective, I would like to clarify a few issues.
One comment:"why is the public school system underwriting the costs of home schooling?" The Chicago Virtual is a public school, not homeschooling. There is Chicago public school oversight for these families participating in the program. Homeschoolers are not "carpetbagging" and have no desire to do such. The comment is correct; we homeschoolers have "opted out" of the public school system. Homeschoolers are considered a private school per the compulsory attendance exemption statute and a 1950 IL Supreme Court case law. The families participating in this program are in a public school just as kids sitting in a classroom all day are in public school.
Illinois homeschoolers aren't asking for anything regarding this public virtual school. Many, including my family, don't even take the education tax credits that are allowed by tax law. And for that matter, our tax money pays for schools that we voluntarily chose to not have our children participate in. Many are happy to pay the taxes in the hopes that it is helping our communities' children learn. So, the idea that homeschoolers are trying to get something for free doesn't hold water.
Many homeschoolers pick and choose various educational resources that work for each one of their children, without a curriculum in a box such as the K12 program. Despite the religious reference about reasons why we homeschool, the bottom line generally is that we do what's best for each child from the unlimited learning resources.
Which brings me to the socialization issue. Most homeschoolers are out and about every day. Not with same age peers but with many of different ages. And that works for our families without negating the choice that public school parents make for their children. It would be great if public school parents would do the same for the choices we homeschoolers make for our children.
Hope I've addressed some of the standard (and misinformed) complaints that are made about this virtual school/homeschool issue. Illinois homeschoolers are far from being carpetbaggers. (And my tax bill proves it.)
Posted by: Susan Ryan | October 06, 2006 at 12:54 PM
To be honest, I think the carpetbagger label was applied to the people behind the virtual online school that are getting the money (e.g. K12) from the district; not the students.
I'll agree with you about socialization. It's a routine argument people bring up, but by now there seems to be enough data to show that homeschooled children are no more or less socially behind than their in school building peers.
I brought up religion, because, from my own experience, it has been religious-based homeschoolers who are most likely to want to completely separate from the state school system. Others home school because their child has unique needs or scheduling requirements; some just want to give their kids a better education than they think the public school system can provide--but these groups are not as hostile to the state school systems as the religiously based ones.
Posted by: a_cermak | October 06, 2006 at 04:08 PM
There are many who have left and stayed out of the state school systems and it wasn't because of their religious beliefs.
Trying to start on-topic however, I hope that the Chicago families/children are served well by the Chicago public school system. Whatever and wherever they use it. But it is very frustrating having homeschooling brought into this public school issue. Seems like homeschooling is caught between a rock and a hard space with CPS, CTU and ISBE firing shots at each other using homeschooling as the missile head.
Posted by: Susan Ryan | October 06, 2006 at 06:45 PM
I have had parents pull their children out of CPS to homeschool. Sometimes the parents were illiterate, one child(age 12) is a busboy in a downtown restaurant and another is a babysitter for younger siblings. Another child age 9 supposedly had school phobia and her nother kept her home to home school. According to her older brother she was at the mall etc. with mom. Usaully this happened when school officials questioned truancy issues. Where are the oversights? No one checks these supposed "homeschools".
Posted by: | October 06, 2006 at 08:43 PM
Where were the illiterate parents educated? Following that, even with a college degree, I know I have re-learned (or learned) some math principles with my children as we homeschool. (And yes, I was public schooled. And yes, to follow the traditional educational mindset, we have 2 older kids who were homeschooled and are doing fine in college.)
Please note child labor laws that are apparently not enforced. Homeschoolers do go out and about; sometimes shopping during public school hours because our learning time isn't limited to just public school hours. I don't know anyone who shops at the mall all day, every day, but maybe you do?
If school officials were questioning the family truancy issues in the public school, why didn't they do more than question and deal with the truancy issues? They should have if they're doing their job.
8:43pm also asks, with the anecdotal 'evidence of homeschooling failure', where are the oversights? Please note the graduation rates that have the bureaucratic oversight that you referenced. Don't you think that parents having the initiative/courage to go against the societal norm along with opinions like yours would take the huge responsibility of their children being well educated seriously? They do. Homeschooling parents answer to their children. And since children are most precious as is their well being; as I see it, your concerns are a pot shot that should seem like the least of worries in the educational realm of our country.
Apologies to the moderator/list owner for going off-topic. The Chicago Virtual is a public school that has the oversight that concerns 8:43pm.
Posted by: Susan Ryan | October 07, 2006 at 10:19 AM
10:19 The State of Illinois does not monitor home-schooling. I am gald you are literate enough to relearn math principles. It is hard to home-school if the parent can not read. These are not the home-schoolers who go on to college. CPS fired the truant officers and CPS will not go to court IF the parents call the school saying the child is sick. When the teachers have questioned absences of 45 plus days that is when we are told I am transferring my child to my home which is now a home school. The child who is working as a busboy is working at the same restaurant as his mother who is a waitress there. It was reported and the mother said he was off from school that day and just helping out in the restaurant. Teachers do try but please remember we have class sizes of up to 36 and can not continue to be social workers, nurses, counselors and teachers. I have yet to meet a home school parent who wasn't overly religious, had a child with "problems", or wanted her child to associate with only the right people.
Posted by: | October 09, 2006 at 06:11 PM
No need to be anonymous for me as a homeschooler, 6:11. You can call me Susan.
Sounds like CPS could use a shake up in employees.
You should be very glad that homeschooling parents suit the bill of social workers, nurses, counselors and teachers. Just as they did from the day their children were born. As did the vast majority of parents, despite your cynical view.
Maybe you should get out more :-). There are many, many homeschoolers in the Chicago area who might not fit your description of a "home school parent". Overly religious?! What does that mean? Sounds like Goldilocks, and that families must suit your narrow criteria of suitable parents. Pity on the parents and most especially the children in your classroom who are “overly religious", is "a child with "problems"”, or who monitored their children’s goings on and “wanted her child to associate with only the right people”. You have displayed several of the many reasons that families homeschool.
Posted by: Susan Ryan | October 10, 2006 at 09:43 AM
9:43 You are teaching your children at home yet your writing skills are barely adequate for a fourth grader. You have at least five incomplete sentences in your posting. Keep on homeschooling but please take a course in the teaching of language arts.
Posted by: realteacher70 | October 10, 2006 at 07:16 PM
Susan's writing skills are the sum of her public school education. I am sure that any public school teacher would find her skills at least commensurate with the skills of many high school students.
Sheri
Posted by: Sheri | October 16, 2006 at 09:26 AM
realteacher70 - Maybe you should grade the spelling of some of the public school teachers on this blog?
Posted by: Joyce | October 16, 2006 at 10:16 AM
I want to comment on the whole "socialization" issue. School socialization is an artificial structure of 20 or more pupils of roughly the same age with one adult supervising them. All too often the teacher is obvlivious to the peer pressure that goes on in the classroom and on the playground, and school children are in charge of their own socialization. Often the public school environment teaches bullying and fosters cliques to exclude and taunt others. School is not a natural way to socialize children, and, in most cases, public school socialization is very unhealthy. I don't want my children simply being one of the herd out of fear of being teased. Homeschool children tend to interact with children (and adults) of all ages on a regular basis in a healthier manner. Home schooling comes out far ahead in teaching good social skils. Period.
Posted by: Homeschool Mom | October 16, 2006 at 11:24 AM
P.S. I see grammatical errors in posts by alleged teachers as well as home schoolers. And, although I'm no longer religious, it reminds of a Bible verse: "Let ye who is without sin cast the first stone."
Posted by: Homeschool Mom | October 16, 2006 at 11:33 AM
The discussions of people's grammatical errors would be laughable were they not so sad.
If you can't discuss the issues, insult. Come on! If you want to discuss homeschooling, discuss homeschooling.
The place to discuss grammatical errors is http://vagrantgrammar.blogspot.com/.
It's a whole bunch. of fun. for you. Grammarians!
Posted by: SmashedFace | October 16, 2006 at 08:28 PM